British Tennis Forum - Celebrating 20 Years!

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

ITF Wheelchair Tennis Tour 2026

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Today in Melbourne

Mens - Alfie won over Houdet in straights but Gordon lost in 3 sets in the last 8; Alfie into semis

Mens doubles - Alfie and Gordon beat Ben+ in the semis and into the final

Quad - Andy and Greg both lost their last 8 matches

Quad doubles - Andy+ won a tight semi in a MtB and are also into the final.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Back end of the Melbourne 1000 event and Alfie destroyed de la Puente for the loss of just two games to move into the final, where he will play world number one, Takito Oda. Oda dropped a set in his semi against Gustavo Fernandez.

In mens doubles, Alfie and Gordon took the title and seem to be hitting form again after a relatively poor second half to 2025.

Andy and Heath Davison lost the quad doubles final

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

In 2025, Alfie was 4 wins and 2 losses in the AO warm up events he played, although he went on to take the AO singles title for an 8-2 record over the Aussie summer.

He is 6 wins and no losses so far this year. Oda has the recent edge on Alfie and so will be favourite in the final and also in next weeks AO itself, but Alfie does seem to have stepped up his performance level in a good start to the year.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

I hadnt paid a lot of attention but just realised that Alfie is actually back at WR #1 ahead of Oda as of this week. Oda lost points from his early 2025 Aussie campaign ahead of the AO.

On the down side, ALfie and Gordon are no longer WR 1 mens doubles - they have slipped to equal 4th, first time off the top in a LONG time. Spain's de la Puente is now top, Dutch player Spaargaren is second and another Spaniard Caverzachi is third in the doubles list.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Alfie won the opening set over Oda, 6-4. Come on Alfie!

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Alfie lost a right old battle eventually, but went down in 3 long sets. Battle is joined now for the AO. Not sure when draws are out but will post GB highlights when known, over the weekend no doubt.

Hard luck, Alfie, decent week though

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Alfie and Gordon took the doubles title and, although not likely to be top seeds in the AO must be confident going in.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Australian Open draws are out:

Womens qualifying - Lucy Shuker is in the draw and plays Israels Zikri. Just one round of qualies

Quad main draw - Greg Slade plays a qualifier; Andy Lapthorne plays 4th seed, Kaplan of Turkey. Winners meet in the last 8

Mens main draw - Alfie Hewett is top seed and plays Miki of Japan; Gordon Reid plays Aussie wildcard, Parker. The winners play in the last 8.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

Quite a difficult draw for the Brits, on the whole.

In the womens, Lucy could qualify but has a tough main draw whoever she plays. However, although ranked above Zikri, her Israeli qualies opponent, Zikri has won their last two matches.

In quads, Greg will almost certainly get through round one, but Kaplan should prove too strong for both Brits - that said, Andy is 4-7 head to head on Kaplan, 1-2 in 2025, so it could be an interesting battle (WR4 v 5).

In mens, I expect Alfie and Gordon to both get through and meet in the last 8, Alfie probably would win that and should expect to reach the final, where Oda will most likely be waiting.

-- Edited by JonH comes home on Sunday 25th of January 2026 08:27:12 AM

wolf · Tennis legend

Lucy lost her qualifier 7-5 in the 3rd.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

wolf wrote:
Lucy lost her qualifier 7-5 in the 3rd.

Dang - yes it looked like it would be close and it was.

wolf · Tennis legend

With very high temperatures forecast no wheelchair matches are on the schedule currently for tomorrow.

Andy Lapthorne was on the BBC radio commentary last week and was saying there's a different heat rule for them as anyone with a spinal injury struggles to sweat. I wasn't sure if this was just for his category or not, but looks like no play overall tomorrow.

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

50 years of wheelchair tennis

https://www.itftennis.com/en/#itf-home-top-moments/itf-home-top-moments/745d6b8e-d10a-1faa-c79b-3a1f10efe2df

-- Edited by JonH comes home on Tuesday 27th of January 2026 07:44:32 PM

JonH comes home · Tennis legend

The Quad singles are under way for the Brits and not a good start:

Andy is a set down, 4-6, to Kaplan

Greg is also down a set, 1-6 to qualifier Pena

Hope they can turn it round